[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 13 (Monday, January 23, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E156]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                    THE STAFF PROTECTION ACT OF 1995

                                 ______


                           HON. STEPHEN HORN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, January 23, 1995
  Mr. HORN. Mr. Speaker, today I have introduced, on behalf of myself 
and 18 of my colleagues from both sides of the aisle, the Staff 
Protection Act of 1995, H.R. 628.
  This title speaks directly to the nature of this legislation. 
Currently, under the United States Criminal Code, our staff members are 
not protected from assault, threats, or violence caused to them while 
performing their official duties.
  I learned of this breach in the law through personal experience. In 
1993, I and members of my District office staff, were threatened 
repeatedly by a person with a record of violence. Several staff members 
were forced to endure this harassment on a daily basis and became 
fearful of their physical safety. After making direct threats on the 
lives of staff members, this person was indicted by the U.S. attorney 
and arrested. I was subpoenaed to testify in Federal court in Los 
Angeles about the threats made against me and members of the staff. Due 
to my appearance in court, I missed five important votes.
  Unfortunately, the only attainable evidence was of this person 
physically threatening my district director and not me personally. 
Since the United States Code does not protect members of one's official 
staff, the judge dismissed the case. As a result, this individual was 
released, and the staff's safety and peace of mind have continued to be 
placed in jeopardy.
  My staff is not the only one to suffer from this kind of harassment. 
Many of us know of other offices where violence to the staff has been 
threatened and/or acted upon. This measure will ensure that 
congressional staff and their families have the same legal protection 
afforded to Members of Congress and their families. There is no reason 
why Federal law should not protect members of our staffs while they are 
serving in an official capacity.
  Mr. Speaker, this proposal has received broad, bipartisan support. It 
costs nothing to change the law. The benefit is the safety of those who 
serve this institution and our constituents with immeasurable 
dedication and loyalty.
  I enclose the text of H.R. 628:
                                H.R. 628

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Staff Protection Act of 
     1995''.

     SEC. 2. PROTECTIONS FOR STAFF OF CERTAIN OFFICIALS.

       Section 115 of title 18, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)(1)(A), by inserting ``a member of the 
     staff or'' before ``a member of the immediate family'';
       (2) in subsection (a)(1)(B), by inserting ``or a member of 
     the staff of such an official, judge, or law enforcement 
     officer;'' after ``under such section,'';
       (3) in the matter following subparagraph (B) in subsection 
     (a)(1), by striking ``or law enforcement officer'' each place 
     it appears and inserting ``law enforcement officer, or member 
     of the staff''; and
       (4) in subsection (c)--
       (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (3);
       (B) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (4) and 
     inserting ``; and''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(5) `member of the staff' includes any person acting in a 
     staff capacity, whether on a paid or unpaid basis.''.
     

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